By Matt Carlson
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Shota Imanaga had a career-high 11 strikeouts to win his fifth straight start, Dansby Swanson hit a home run while tying his season high with four RBIs and the Chicago Cubs beat the Oakland Athletics 9-2 on Monday night.
Chicago (77-73) remains five games behind the New York Mets (82-68) for the final NL wild card with 12 games remaining.
Imanaga (14-3) allowed five hits in six innings, including Brent Rooker’s 38th home run, a two-run hit in the third inning. The 31-year-old left-hander allowed three walks.
Rooker singled for the second straight game and gave Oakland its third straight loss. The previous two came against the White Sox, who hadn’t won consecutive games in nearly three months.
Isaac Paredes and Miguel Amaya each had three hits and two RBIs in an 18-hit effort. Paredes is 14 in his last 29 games (.483) with seven RBIs in his last eight games.
Seiya Suzuki had three hits, one of seven Cubs starters with multiple hits.
Trey Wingenter followed Imanaga with two scoreless innings and Jack Neely got around a pair of singles in the ninth.
Joey Estes (7-8) allowed six runs and nine hits.
Paredes singled with two outs in the first inning and Chicago opened the game with a five-run second. Amaya and Ian Happ had RBI singles and Swanson followed with his 15th home run, a three-run drive into the left-field basket.
Coaches room
Athletics: Outfielder Lawrence Butler was held out of the starting lineup but was available on the bench. … Starting pitcher Ross Stripling (lower back strain) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, but manager Mark Kotsay said he is “not necessarily close to a return.” … Starting pitcher Austin Adams (right forearm tendinitis) is awaiting further evaluation. … Starting pitcher Osvaldo Bido (right wrist flexor tendinitis) is with the A’s but has not started ball.
To be continued
Oakland right-handed pitcher Mitch Spence (7-9, 4.33 ERA) faced Chicago left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks (2-3, 5.27) on Tuesday night.
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